A bikini allowing you to charge your mp3-player, Solar Bikini is a swimsuit retrofitted with 1″ x 4″ photovoltaic film strips sewn together in series with conductive thread. The cells terminate in a 5 volt regulator into a female USB connection.

The male version ( coming up ) is called iDrink, featuring a greater surface area which equals more output voltage. This additional juice is used to power a 1.5 amp peltier junction which cools a single beer in a custom coozy. Double cool!

Links: …>

Flash-player in a chrome-plated steel body frame. Control elements and OLED-display are covered by flexible, semi-transparent plastic.

Technical Specifications

Size and weight:
Height: 75 mm
Width: 52 mm
Depth: 9 mm
Weight: 82 g

Capacity:
Built-in memory capacity: 1 GB MB
Built-in memory type: NAND Flash
USB flash drive
Stores data via USB flash drive

Display:
4Line OLED yellow

Audio:
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Headphone Output Power: 14mW
(16 ohms) at Max. Volume
Signal/Noise Ratio: 90dB

File support:
File type: MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, ASF, OGG
MP3 bit rates: 8-320 kbps and VBR
WMA bit rates: 5-192 kbps
Tag: ID3 V1 Tag, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0, ID3 V2 4.0

Headphones (not in base case):
Earphones
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Impedance: 16 ohms

Operating system requirements:
PC with USB port
In version 1.0 – only Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later

Environmental requirements:
Operating temperature: 0° to 40° C

Input and output:
Output: 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
Input: USB port

Power and battery:
Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery
Playtime: Up to 13 hours when fully charged
Charging via USB port
Full-charge time: about 4 hours

In the box:
Saint B
Dock
Quick Start guide
USB cable

Unfortunately we only want to know where to get this *-) Any hints?

All info: …>

The first of their project to be staged within CoCo is called ‘Moi’. Being a LED-jewelry, it is their first commercialised product. Moi is powered by a 3 volt replacable battery, and available in green, amber and white. One bracelet / necklace / … is sold for 25 USD. Sweet!

I couldn’t curb my female geekyness and ordered one. The candy arrives in a fancy packaging, an upgraded version of the plastic bags hardwear-components are packed in, and the ‘interface’ can be understood by each 100 % digibeet. Even if the electric wire is a bit crappy, ‘Moi’ is a must for every contemporary fashion-victim.

Links:
Studio 5050 …>
Moi …>

Basically these are electro-acoustic clothes and dresses that make sounds by interacting with their environment. They use – among other electronic instruments – light sensors that enable them to produce sounds through the interaction of their movements and the surrounding light. Via movement sensors they can also trigger electronic sounds that are subsequently choreographed – or ‘orchestrated’- into musical compositions as an ‘audio ballet’. A variety of other electronic instruments ( mini-computers, samplers, contact microphones, cassette and CD players, and radio receivers ) allow them to work with the sounds, surfaces, and topographies of the space around them in a variety of solo or group choreographies. Rechargeable batteries allow them to operate both in- and outdoors.

View ‘Audio Ballerinas’ …> and ‘Audio Clothes and Uniforms’ …>
Or on their website: …>

GloFab’s sizes differ up to 3*3m and numerous weaving-patterns are possible.

Links: …> ( optimized for Internet Explorer )

In use, the switches retain the benefits of textiles – washability, handling, durability, conform to 3D shapes, and fashion styling. SOFTswitch switches provide functionality of electronic controls – enabling direct connectivity between garment and electronic device.

Also: Bluetooth audio streaming and heated integrated technology!

SOFTswitch designs were nominated as one of Time Magazine’s ‘Top 10 Coolest Inventions of 2002′.

Links: …>

FabriCan consists of fibres mixed with a binder. Almost any fibre can be used – more difficult is to get the raw material and to have it provided in its appropriate form. It is elastic, all kind of matters ( as well: shade, scent, … ) can be added, and the spraying allows to control thickness and density.

Links: …>

The original batch of 2 yards of fabric was made from 100 individually-recorded tapes. Because 30 minute, 60 minute, and 90 minute tape is different thicknesses, the loom had to be constantly readjusted. For ease of manufacture, larger batches of fabric are made from otherwise obsolete spools of 60-minute tape.

Sonic fabric emits sound when you run a tape head (the little thingy inside the tape deck that touches the tape) over it. Because the tape retains its magnetic quality through the weaving process, it acts as a big wide band of tape.

In order for the sounds to be perfectly audible, though, the head would have to be swiped across the fabric at the same speed it was recorded at.

Making a sonic fabric listening device is possible by taking an old tape walkman, unscrew the head and remount it on the outside a plastic housing using silicone. Plug in the headphones, turn the volume all the way up, press ‘play’ and run the head over the fabric. Works best if you drag it along in the same direction as the tape (as opposed to running it along the warp, which is cotton or polyester).

Links:

Sonic Fabric …>
Alice Santoro …>

‘Luminex’ is a non-reflective fabric that can emit its own light. It is created with threads of every type and nature and emits light in different colours. The luminous optic / sparkling fibers used in Luminex are special detectors of elementary particles fibers, used in experiments of sub-nuclear physics.

Presently, Luminex is available in dimensions variable in between 130 and 180 cm. The fabric can be cut and extended through junction and conjunction like any regular fabric. Luminex can be supplied directly by 200/110 volt using a small transformer ( i.e. mobile phone battery charger ) or by both rechargebale and traditional batteries.

Links:
Luminex …>

conductive thread
sewing machine
hand sewing needle
pliers
scissors
LED
1,000 ohm resistor
alligator clips
9-volt battery

1) Start by cutting the end wires (or leads) of the resistor down to a shorter length.

2) Bend the leads in a round shape. You’ll notice that one LED has a longer lead. This is the + side of the LED that electricity flows into. The shorter lead of the LED is the ground side. Like the resistor, cut the leads and bend them into loops. Make the longer lead + a larger loop. Bend the loops so that the LED can sit flat on the fabric.

3) Mark where the components will go on the fabric. Make sure that the resistor is placed by the side of the LED that has a larger loop.

4) Thread your sewing machine. If the thread is too thick to pass through the needle, you can use a larger needle.

5) Sew lines and leave gaps where you’d like the resistor and LED to be (basically you will be sewing between the marks you made on the fabric). Be sure to backstitch the ends where you want to add your components (to back stitch, just push the reverse button on your sewing machine and the machine sews backwards). Backstitching keeps the end of thread from coming undone and ensures that there is more surface area for the components to make contact with. Using a hand sewing needle start from the back.

6) Hand stitch the loop of one lead to the edge of a sewn line.
7) Hand sew the resistor and LED into the circuit. Using a hand sewing needle start from the back of the fabric (so as to avoid loose threads in the front). Hand stitch the loop of one lead to the edge of a sewn line. Be sure that the hand stitched part overlaps with the sewn line.

8) Once all of your components are sewn on, add a power supply. Attach one end of an alligator clip to the + side of the battery and the other end to the resistor side of the sewn line (refer to red clip in photo). Using the second alligator clip attach one end to the side of the battery and the other end to the LED side of the sewn line (refer to green clip in photo). The LED should light up. Now throw on the shirt and hit the town.

Diana Eng …>

From: Gizmodo …>